Vivian Maria was born at 12:34 p.m. on April 2, 2008. We went to the hospital at 7:30 a.m. after laboring at home for several hours, and everything went VERY smoothly and quickly after we got to the hospital.

Our birth was as natural as a hospital birth can be! We didn't have any IVs, only had intermittent monitoring, and only two dilation-checks. No tear, no episiotomy, and no pain meds (unless you count the two Tylenol I took, but that doesn't seem like it really counts!).

I only pushed for twenty minutes--I guess all that red raspberry leaf paid off!

My daughter is the most beautiful, wonderful, amazing person to ever grace this planet! I have never been so happy or so completely consumed with love!

She was twenty-two inches, weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces, and APGAR'ed at nine! She's the very picture of health and perfection!